There can be no greater joy, he said, than this for the people of the Punjab. I have “no words to thank” Prime Minister Imran Khan, the former cricketer told the Indian media.

Sidhu welcomed Pakistan’s decision to open the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims. The former cricketer, who recently visited Pakistan to attend Prime Minister Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony, also urged the Indian government to reciprocate the goodwill gesture by Pakistan.

Sidhu said: “They [Pakistan] are ready to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Ji. There can be no greater joy than this for the people of the Punjab.”

Referring to an announcement by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry that Pakistan will soon open the Kartar Singh border for Sikh pilgrims and allow them to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur without having to obtain a visa, Sidhu praised the decision.

The cricketer went on to say: “I plead to the Indian prime minister and the External Affairs Ministry that if they have made an effort, you should also make an effort. This is the message from Pakistan… Don’t think that anyone can oppose this noble gesture.”